Aaron Gordon didn't break this man's Archbishop Mitty scoring records

Despite Aaron Gordon's sensational run at Archbishop Mitty, Steve Gera, here during his senior season in 1968, still holds the school records for points in a season (1,066 in 1966-67) and points in a West Catholic Athletic League game (50 against St. Francis in 1968).

SAN JOSE -- Aaron Gordon eclipsed many records during his sensational basketball career at Archbishop Mitty, but there are two notable marks that survived the Arizona-bound forward's onslaught.

Meet Steve Gera, still the school record holder for scoring in a season (1,066 points as a junior in 1966-67) and points in a West Catholic Athletic League game (50 against St. Francis in 1968).

"I tell people today, 'Hey, anything over half-court was in play for me,'" Gera said this week, laughing. "I could fire it away pretty good. I pretty much had the green light. That was the fun, good ol' days, I tell you."

Gera, 62, is retired, lives in Willow Glen and remains active in the Mitty community.

The former Chico State player attended some games this season and followed the careers of Gordon and Gordon's older brother, Drew.

Gera called the 6-foot-8 Aaron Gordon "a man among boys" and noted that the decades-old season scoring record remains intact largely because Mitty played about 40 games in 66-67.

"Jim Taylor was our coach. He was a Santa Clara U guy, played at Santa Clara U for (Bob) Feerick," Gera said. "And his big thing was the only way you get better is you play in the East Bay. So every other day we were up playing McClymonds, Oakland High, Oakland Tech, Salesian."

Still, Gera averaged about 26 points per game in an era that long predated the 3-point shot. (Gordon averaged 21.6 points this season).

Gera's point total dropped substantially his senior season as the non-East Bay Catholic schools broke away to form the WCAL. But the 6-foot guard still played well enough that season to become the WCAL's first player of the year and receive first-team All-Central Coast Section honors.

One of Gera's good friends, Gary Radunich of Branham, was the CCS player of the year in '68. Radunich later became Radnich, the longtime Bay Area sports media personality.

"Gary was a neighbor of mine," Gera said. "Gary and I played in the seventh and eighth grade together here at Blackford Elementary. He and I are pretty close family friends."

Gera's three daughters played volleyball at Mitty. Two went on to Fresno State and one, Lainey Gera, played for UCLA's national championship team in 2011.

"It's been a pretty good run here," Gera said.

As for Gordon, California's Mr. Basketball this season for the second year in a row, Gera said, "He's got bigger and better things ahead of him, and I think he's going to do great. It was a lot of fun watching him."